“If the Coconut is shy, he should never go to China” – guest comment

This came in as an email:

Passengers are faced with a warning sign saying ‘no photos’ at passport control points because that is when they effectively enter / leave a country. Taking photos at passport control is prohibited because of potential security risks e.g. Planning a terrorist attack, violating border control, etc.

Even if Norman Vella took a photo of a coconut walking through the checkpoint, that couldn’t be classed as a security risk. He works there, for heaven’s sake. If he wanted to plan a terrorist attack there, he could do it blindfold.

If taking photos of passengers were a crime, then we’d have to jail the MIA airport director for operating a CCTV that takes pictures of passengers, and we should jail ministers of home affairs anywhere that e-passport checks are in place because the systems are programmed to take your picture.

If the coconut is shy, he should never go to China. The security officers there take your picture at least twice. Once to check your passport and once to spy on the passport control queues.